Folding costumer



17, 1940. G R SC'HLElCHER 2,225,235

FOLDING cos'ruMER Fild Oct. 23, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l NVE TOR AT RNEYPatented Dec. 17,' 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT Frio 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a folding costumer. In thepresent art most of the folding costumers have the upper cloak support,when extended, folding or collapsible arms with a pivot in the centerwhich makes a very impractical and dangerous article as one is likely tocatch ones fingers in a joint when opening or closing same or rip oneshand when removing clothes therefrom. It is my first object to removethat feature which is not only dangerous but is also unsightly. Again inthe present type of folding costumers all of the extending collapsiblearms fit into grooves or recesses in the uprights and thus greatlyweaken the construction of the uprights and also given a danger spot inwhich one could catch his or her fingers when opening or closing thecostumer and even when opened clothes might catch there-between. Theyare also unsightly in appearance. It is a second object of my inventionto eliminate that feature and thus have strong and substantial uprightswithout any of those objectionable features. By having the upper crossbar, when the costumer is in a collapsed position wedged at both theupper and lower extremities and extending on the outside of theuprights, it enables the costumer to form a stronger unit when in aclosed position than is at present accomplished and is a third object ofmy invention. Likewise the outside locking of the support bracket orlower bracing arms upon the outside of the uprights when the costumer iscollapsed forms a stronger unit when in a closed position and is afourth object of my invention. The base members are of such simpledesign that they are less complicated and bulky over the present art andform a fifth object of my invention. The upper hangers are also of asimple design and less complicated than the present art and form a sixthobject of my invention. The hanging elements forming a two way hangerare entirely new and simple and practical and form a seventh object ofmy invention. The means of locking the upper spacing rod, when openedare the eighth and ninth objects of my invention. 'Ihe means of lockingsaid rod when used to hold the uprights closed is a tenth object of myinvention. 'Ihe means of locking the lower supporting brackets whenFigure 1' is an outside side. view in collapsed condition. Figure 2 isan outside View looking in the direction of arrow in Figure 1. Figure 3is a vertical section on line 3 3y of Figure 2. Figure. 4 is a verticalsection showing costumer in 5 expanded condition. Figure 5 is a top planview of the device. Figure 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing thelocking member in locked position.

Reading on my said drawings and more parl ticularly Figures 1, 2, 3 and4, they consist of the stand of costumer designated as III, whichconsistsy of two halves, II and I2, and is mounted on a base member I3.The top portion carries hangers I4, also hangers I5. Hangers I4 are 15staggered-ly arranged and carry narrow slots I. Hanging elements I areforced into slots I6 and fastened by screws I'I. Members II and I2 aresplit in the middle at I8 and form an Octagon in an assembled condition.Each one of those halves are split on the top as at I9 and 20.

Split I9 is deeper than 23 to accommodate the C portion 2l of spacingrod 22. In section I2 there is a tube 23 to receive the down turned end24 of rod 22. The C portion 2l by its eyelet 25 permits a pivot pin 25to hold it in fastened position on member I I The end 24 has a narrowslot 26 to receive a locking latch 21. Locking lever 28 is pivotedlysecured to member II and serves with its upper portion 29 to lock therod 30 22 in extended position to prevent an unnecessary high upswing ofrod 22. A set screw 30 is placed underneath the lower section of Cportion 2|. Both members II and I2 have openings 3I and 32 in line topermit the portion 24 to enter 35 through and be locked in collapsedposition by latch 2'I to assure a proper alignment. An additional dowel33 is fastened in lower section of beam I2. A corresponding opening 32in member II permits said pin to enter through and be locked by its slotand latch member 34 as best seen in Figure 2.

Bracing members 35 and 36 are fastened to members II and I2respectively, and lock thelower portion of the costumer firmly in openposition.

Members 35 and 36 are commonly pivoted at 3l and fold up vertically onthe sides of members I0 and II in collapsed position. Member I2 has twostop elements 38 and 39 fastened on its side, which serve to apply aspring like effect to rod 22 in. its non-active position to applypressure to the portion 24 and thereby locking same tight against latch21, and preventing the self releasing of rod 22 as best seen in Figure3.

While I have illustrated my invention in different ways and usingdifferent construction, materials, means and methods, still I do notintend to limit myself to those particular means, designs, methods,materials, or construction, as it is apparent that other means, designs,construction, methods, and materials may be employed for obtaining thesame results Within the scope of any claim without departing from thescope or spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A folding costumer, as herein described,

comprising two halves and mounted thereon base l members, the topportion having attached thereto hangers containing slits for theinsertion of metal strips, said metal .strips projecting in an upwardposition slightly on both sides of said insert, said hangers beingstaggeredly arranged, said halves forming an Octagon when together, saidhalves being split on the top, one half having attached thereto a metalrod having a C curve at one end thereof and an eyelet. on said endcontaining a pivot through said eyelet to hold it in fastened position,the other end of said rod having an L shaped bend and fitting into aslot in the top of the other half, the spring action of said rod whenforced into said end locking said end into said slot, the C end beingheld in locked position, by a locking lever which is pivoted to theother half and the upper portion of said lever locking into the C partof said rod between the rod and the said half and thus preventing anupward swing of said rod, said C portion of said rod having a set screwplaced beneath the lower portion thereof to act as a locking means, saidhalves having openings therein to permit the insertion of said rod atits L shaped end there through when in a closed position and containingon one-half thereof a latch to lock said rod when inserted through saidopenings, which rod has a slot to permit said locking, and one halfcontaining at the lower portion thereof a dowel and a correspondingopening on the other half to receive said dowel, said dowel having aslot therein to receive the end of a pivoted lever when inserted intothe other half, which lever is pivoted on the other half and when lockedinto said dowel adds rigidity to said halves in locked position, saidhalves also containing bracing members on the lower halves and whichbraces are pivoted at the center thereof, said braces when openedlocking and holding the halves in firmer position,` one of said halvesalso contain- 'said veyelet to hold it in fastened position in saidsplit in said half said rod and C curve then passing 'through said half,said rod then extending `a distance and its other end being in L shaped`and fitting, when extended, into a tube in the top of the other halfafter passing through the split in said other half and fastening thereinby the spring action of said rod when forced into said tube, said Ccurve having a set screw beneath the said curve near its eyelet to actas a locking means, and being further locked in position- `by a lockinglever, locking into the C part of said rod between the rod and the halfto which it is attached, said locking lever being pivotecl to said halfbeneath said rod, said rod when released from its extended lockedpositions being pushed through the half to which the tube is insertedand along the outside of said half until said `halves are tight togetherand is then inserted into said halves through a hole therein by means ofits L shaped end, upon said half are two set screws beneath said rodwhich rod acts asa spring when inserted through said halves said rodbeing held by a lever pivoted on the other halfnear the hole therein,said lever fitting into a slot in the end of said L shaped rod andbracing means at the lower end of said halves to add stability thereto,when the device is open. GEORGE R. SCHLEICHER.

